Airship



G. F. COFFELT.

A|RSH|P.'

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 12, 919.

Patented June 22; 1920.

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Quorum;

L r. COFFELT.

AIRSHIP.

.PPLmATmN FILED MAY 12, 1919.

Patented J 11116 22, 1920.

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F Coffe UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE COFFELT, OF GORBIN, KANSAS.

AIRSHIP.

Application filed May 12,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. Corrnrrr, a citizen of the United States, residin at orbin, in the county of Sumner and tate of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Airships, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to airships; and it contemplates the provision of an airship, of heavier than the air type, that is simple and inexpensive in-construction, is adapted to rise perpendicularly from the ground and to stand motionless in the air, is not liable to get out of order while in the air, and is possessed of the capacity of: landing without material movement on the ground, and this without subjecting the machine to shock or jar.

Other objects and practical advantages of the invention will. be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of an airship constituting the best practical embodiment of my invention of which I am cognizant.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the airship.

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrative of the manner in which the blades are adjusted and adjustably fixed with respect to the arms by which they are carried.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detailed views hereinafter specifically referred to.

Similar numerals of reference designate.

corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

To the attainment of the objects and advantageous features set forth, I provide a construction which, among other elements, comprises a body 1, equipped at a suitable point with a pilots seat 2.

Located at the point illustrated, or at any other suitable point, in the body 1 is a motor 3, which may be of the internal combustion type or of any other character compatible with the purpose of my invention without involving departure from the scope of the same as defined in my appended claim.

Connected with the engine 3 is a main drive shaft 4, and connected through intermediate gearings with the said shaft 4 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 296,437.

an auxiliary upright shaft 5. extends upwardly. through the apex of the frame or body 1, and is provided at 6 with a collar upon which the cap 7 which forms theapex of the body or frame 1 rests, so as to sustain the weight of the body and the parts carried thereby. It will be noticed here that rods 8 the interposed between and connected to the cap 7 and the corners of the major portion of the body or frame 1: also, that the body or frame 1 is provided with round wheels 9 to render the same portable and hence to permit of the machine being moved on the ground manually or otherwise, as desired.

A second auxiliary drive shaft 10 is conncctcd through intermediate gearing with the rear end of the main drive shaft 4, and is disposed as shown in rear of the body or frame 1. This shaft 10 is connected in turn through the medium of a coupling with a tail shaft 11.

At the forward end of the body or main frame 1 is provided the fourth auxiliary shaft 12 which is disposed as shown relative to said body or main frame 1.

In conjunction with the parts thus far described, I employ a lifting-propeller 13, a pulling propeller 14, a balancing propeller 15 and a guiding propeller 16; the said propellers being arranged as illustrated relative to their respective shafts and the body or main frame 1. The lifting propeller 13 is disposed horizontally and is made up of arms 17, and blades or fans 18, one to each arm 17 the said blades being hingedly connected at 19 to their respective arms 17. Each of the blades 18 is connected to a rod 20, and the several rods 20 are connected to a movable collar 21 on the shaft 5. From the collar 21 a rod 22 extends downwardly'into the body or frame 1 to a point within convenient reach of the pilot or driver in the seat 2. Manifestly, by manipulating the rod 22, the pilot ordriver is enabled to adjust the blades 18 relative to their respective arms 17, and in that way set the blades 18 in order to meet different conditions and to raise the machine at different speeds as well as regulate in a measure the gravitation or descent thereof.

The front propeller 14, the balancing propeller 15 and the guiding propeller 16 are each made up of arms 17 and blades 18 hinged to said arms in the same manner as hereinbefore described with reference to This shaft 5 the lifting propeller 13. It will also be noticed that each of the propellers th 15 and l6 has its blades l8 connected through rods 23 with collars ill on the shafts con1 plementary to the pro ivellers, and that the collars 24 of the propellers l5 and 16 are connected through rods :25 with bell crai'iks :56, which bell cranks, in turn, are connected to rods '37 that are carried into the body or main frame 1. to points within convenient reach of the pilot in the seat 2. A rod 28 is connected to the collar 24, complementary to the pulling propeller 1i and carried directly into the body or frame 1 to a. point convenient for operation by the pilot.

Incidental to the operation of the airship and with particular reference to the lifting propeller 13, it Will be manifest that with the blades 18 held level with the arms 17 no wind will be caught in the said blades. \Vhen, however, the blades are pulled down wardly through the medium of their complementary rods they operate to catch the wind and to draw the machine upwardly. It will also be observed that by manipulating the rod .32 the machine may be forced either upwardly or downwardly at the will of the operator. I prefer to employ but one lifting propeller 13, but I would have it distinctly understood that without involving departare from the scope of my claimed invention a multiplicity of lifting propellers may be employed. Said additional propellers are not illustrated, but it will be readily understood that they may be driven from the shaft 5 through the medium of horizontal and upright shafts connected through gearing with said shaft 5.

In the control of the propeller 14, the operator pulls rearwardly on the control rod complementary to said propeller when he dosires to move the machine forwardly. It will also be noticed that the blades of the propeller i l may be pushed outwardly to reverse the propeller and enable the same to 'serve as a brake for bringing the machine to. a stop.

The propellers 15 and 1G in combination form a tail or vane for the machine, and when the machine is in flight and has a tend ency to tip forwardly the operator is enabled to bring the machine back to a substantially horizontal position by manipulating the blades of the propeller 15, and in the event of the machine tipping baekwardly the blades of the propeller 15 are reversed.

To guide the machine the pilot or driver manipulates the blades of the propeller 16 and by such operation is enabled to turn the machine in any direction desired. It will also be appreciated that by virtue of the propeller 16 the machine is effectually controlled by the operator irrespective of the speed of the machine or the force of the wind to which the same is subjected.

I prefer. in practice, to connect the up right shaft 5 with the main drive shaft L through the medium of a movable gear 31), capable of being lifted out of gear when on the road. I also prefer to have the shaft that extends to the tail propellers connected by this gear so that the same will be also disconnected when the gear is raised This renders it feasible to set the machine upon the chassis of an automobile so that by folding the top propeller down the hold will run on the ground or a roadway after the In an nor of an automobile.

W'hen deemed expedient and with a view to increasing the factor of safety, a storage battery 4.0 may be carried in the body or frame 1 and equipped with means whereby it may be expeditiously and easily connected with the shaft 5 so as to avert falling of the machine in the event of the motor 3 failing from any cause tooperate. In this connection. it will be apparent that all of the elements that enter into my novel airship are strong in construction and there is, therefore, little liability of the machine suffering an accident because of one ormore of the working parts breaking.

But little experience is necessary to enable a ]')ers0n of ordinary intelligence to operate the machine to advantage. This will be readily appreciated when it is stated that in starting the machine all propellers are maintained in neutral. Then after the engine is sufiiciently heated. the operator draws the rod down slowly with the result that the blades 18 of the propellers 13 are depressed and the machine is lifted or caused to rise in the air. When the machine is in the air the propeller 14 may be put into use at any time by pulling rearwardly on the control rod complementary to said propeller, and manifestly by adjusting the blades of the propeller 14 the speed of the machine may be nicely regulated. Again, by manipulation of the blades of the propeller 16 the machine may be accurately guided by the pilot.

The construction herein shown and described constitutes the best practical embodiment of my invention of which I am aware, but it is to be understood that in the future practice of the invention various changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts may be made without involving departure from the principle of my invention or the scope of my appended claim.

Having described my invention. what I claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

ding propeller ax-ranged above the balmanta to each to Her and connected fixing propeller and in rear of the body; with ti l {blades thei' eof or enablingan opereach of said propellers including arms and gtor in the body to ad'ust the blades of each 10 blades on said arms, a motor carried propeller independentiy of the blades of the 5 by the body, connections intermeother propellers. diate said motor and the several propellers, In testimony whereof I afiix in Y ture. and independently adjustable means comple- GEORGE F. (lgFwT. 

